My friend Margi is a great researcher and loves gadgets and gizmos. I asked her if she would help me find cool things to share with you on this page. Enjoy our on going list of tips, hints and info on quilting techniques and gadgets!

Appliqué Patterns

Tip: When doing my appliqué, I appliqué any layered pieces before I glue them to the background.

Tip: I always start my appliqué by bringing the needle up from the underside of the background. This way the knot will never sneak out from under the appliqué piece.

Tip: Half Square Triangles (HST) If you've worked with my patterns for awhile you'll notice that I seem to use lots of half square triangle blocks…that's because I love them! I think they are easy to make and give you so many design options. The other day my friend Roberta asked me for any tips on getting nice HST units. So here are a few I've learned over the years.

One of the most accurate methods for me is to make my triangles using either triangles on a roll or thangles. Both methods are very similar; you sew over the paper, cut, and tear off the paper. They are very accurate. I don't always want to do that tearing part...but will for anything finished 2" or under. Almost every quilt store carries one of these or both. See http://www.thangles.com or http://www.trianglesonaroll.com/for more information.

Be sure you sew with a 1/4" seam allowance. The smaller the square the more off you will be if the seam allowance is not accurate.

Iron open and measure each block if you want to be sure they are 100% accurate. The smaller the HST the more wonky it gets. When I took a class on minis with Nancy Johnson Srebo she told us she irons and measures every HST...and disregards any that are not 100%. The errors can multiply very quickly.

And the final tip I have...make the HST bigger than you want, then trim it to the exact size. This might be something to do if you only have a few or if they are very tiny!

Fabric Selection

Tip: When I pick background fabrics I use lots of different fabrics. Plaids, stripes, and lots of florals. I don't just stick to light colors. If you look at Ma-Ma's Garden you'll see I used some medium green, tans and even black prints behind the hugs and kisses. Lay the fabric out (uncut) on the floor or design wall in the place you want to use it. Leave it there overnight. The next day look at it again. Do any of the fabrics really look out of place, color is wrong, too light, too dark? Substitute another fabric and your ready to do a spectacular background!

All Patterns

Tip: For some patterns, especially the ones with many appliqué pieces, write your fabric colors or names directly on the templates to help keep them organized.

Patterns Updates

Check the following for the latest updates to my patterns.

Pattern

Description

A Secret Garden

Correction: A few early copies had and extra note included on page 3, column 1, under Outer Border Construction. The step Assemble the outer borders included an incomplete note. Ignore and delete the note. The note was left over after we added the two border diagrams to clarify the instructions.

A Sunday Drive

Correction (applies to copies shipped prior to 4/30/2008): Page 1 -- On the diagram, the right sashing shown as 2" x 11" should be 2" x 12". Under the Cutting Instructions for the Medium green / yellow floral fabric, the first item should be Cut 2 strips not 3. Add Cut 1 strip 2" x 12".

Correction: For the lap quilt, the fabric requirement for the Cream print 2 should be ½ yard. On page 1, under the Cutting Instructions, Cream print 2, cut 14 squares and 28 rectangles.

Delightful Daffs

Corrections: A few early copies need the following corrections: On page 2 under the Appliqué Section, Step 1 should say to place the bottoms of the stems on the 12½" side of the background. On page 1 under the Cutting Instructions, add the following to the Medium gold print cut list: "Cut two Large Side Petal Swirls from the template." Under the Pieced Center Section of the Runner assembly, the colors in steps 1 and 2 should be reversed. Also, the colors in Figure 1 are reversed. On the template page, you need only cut 2 Large Center Petal Swirls.

Katie's Pumpkin Patch

Correction: The cutting size for the left and right inner borders on a few early copies is incorrect. On page 2, the cutting size for the second listing under Borders, Red print 3 should be 24" x 1". Also, step 2 of the Inner border assembly instruction should read "Sew a 24" x 1" red print 3 inner border to each side of the quilt center".

Ma-ma's Garden

Update: To have more stripes on the bee body cut the gold and black strips smaller. If you cut the strips ¾" to 1" wide, the body will have many more stripes.

I Believe

Update: The cutting list in a few early copies incorrectly lists the quantity of red print 2½" squares (piece 35 in Table 1). The correct number to cut is 23.

Basket of Hope

Update: On page 3, column 2 under "Quilt Inner Border," the width of the inner border strips in steps 1 and 2 should read 2½". The cutting list on page 1 is correct. This update applies only to a few early copies.

Times Remembered

Update: A printing error on a few very early copies omitted four fabric requirement amounts on the back cover of the pattern. The amounts are as follows: Cream print 3: 2/3 yd., Gold print 12: 1/3 yd., Burgundy: 1/3 yd., and Red floral: 1/3 yd. If you have one of these copies you are among the quickest to buy this pattern and I thank you. If you would like a replacement page email your request to info@QuiltersHome.com. Please include your postal address.

Violet Cottage/ Pomegranate Hill from Berry Hill Quilts

Correction: Page 34, House side needs to be reversed if doing fusible appliqué.

Circle of Friends

Club Pattern Updates

Backing I used the purple stars from my Brambleberry Farm line for the backing. You'll need 8.5 yards of fabric to back your quilt if you made it the size of mine, 87" x 87".

Inside Pages

Federal Trade Commission Disclosure

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